Injured Salah convinced AFCON success will come ‘sooner or later’

Egypt’s forward #10 Mohamed Salah reacts during a press conference at the palais de la Culture in Abidjan on January 21, 2024 on the eve of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) football match between Egypt and Cape Verde. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Mohamed Salah said Sunday he is convinced he will win the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt “sooner or later” but admitted his country will need to improve if they are to do so at this year’s edition, where he is currently out injured.

The Liverpool forward spoke to reporters ahead of the Pharaohs’ decisive final group game against Cape Verde on Monday, which Egypt need to win to be sure of qualifying for the last 16.

But they will be without Salah for the game in Abidjan, as he recovers from the hamstring injury which forced him off in the first half of the team’s 2-2 draw with Ghana on Thursday.

“I would love to win it, absolutely,” Salah said when asked what it would mean to win the AFCON to add to the medals he has picked up at club level with Liverpool.

“I have won everything possible but this one not yet.

“It will happen somehow, that is what I believe, and whatever I believe I achieve, so sooner or later it will happen.”

Salah made his Egypt debut in 2011, a year after they won the last of their record seven Cup of Nations titles.

He played in the teams that lost the finals in Gabon in 2017, and at the last edition in Cameroon two years ago, and is now determined to go one step further this time.

“Everybody knows what it means to any player to win an Africa Cup,” the 31-year-old said.

“We were unlucky at the last one and also in Gabon. The players are very motivated to win the tournament. We all want to win it.”

However, Rui Vitoria’s team have not convinced so far in Ivory